Well, this is such an old thread, you've probably either found the craftiness you need or fled by now, but in case some one else is looking---yes, there is craftiness in Beijing. It's not like Japan or N. America, but it's there...

And also the Ravelry China Knitters group, which includes yarny folks in other Chinese cities.

The "Insider's Guide to Beijing" from Immersion Guides, is a useful reference for English-speakers living in Beijing, and is for sale in many places where the expat types congregate (hotel newstands, the Bookworm in Sanlitun, The Bridge Cafe in Wudaokou). It doesn't have a separate "crafts" listing but they do list places to buy fabric and yarn, art supplies, and stationary/paper-related stuff. They also have a website which has all kinds of listings of events and shops and so on:

Maybe you've already got your felt by now, but in addition to the fabric stores mentioned above, Pearl Arts and Crafts in Central Square (Cambridge) has craft felt. It's down in the basement, I think you'd turn left at the bottom of the stairs to find it. Good luck trying to get one of their preciously tatooed love-child employees who seems so embarassed to be found in a "craft" section to help you in any substantive way, but the store is very convenient to the T (red line) and other fun places.

I'm a native St Paul gal, now living elsewhere. I visited this thread to see what new places I should check on my next trip home (thank you all!), but I also have one to add:

Mosaic on a Stick It's in St Paul, on Snelling Ave (north of University Ave, south of Hamline University) http://mosaiconastick.com/

It has mosaic supplies--like, the last time I was there, a whole rack of different colors of grout, which I didn't even know existed---books, some finished pieces for sale, studio space, classes, parties, and a fun creative atmosphere. The owners, Lori and Maria, are friendly and also pretty multi-crafty so if you are new to the area, or new to crafting, they are good people to talk to about other craft'n'art venues and stores.

These remind me of The Tale of The Two Bad Mice (Beatrix Potter), in which the mice vandalize a doll house because they are SO mad when they realize that the great food they thought they found is really just painted plaster miniatures...So tasty looking I could understand their frustration...

oh yeah, you are SO not alone. I really don't have it too bad, my wee gal is pretty good at taking the pins out for me, and NOT sticking her fingers under the needle, but with all the pointy, sharp and hot things in the sewing room, it's not exactly relaxing to have her in there---I count myself lucky when she keeps her self busy unfolding my stash and spreading it around the room, with a generous sprinkling of buttons....

Great coat! If you didn't say the ribbons under the buttons were there to hide a mistake, I'd just think they were a clever design detail.

It's a Patton's Wool-Soy blend, I didn't save the label unfortunately but I think it is called "soy wool stripes" (I Yarn from soy beans this is new to me....) It's very soft, so nice to wear, and was pleasant to work with, but it's sort of fuzzy, like it's not twisted or plied very tightly, so when I made a mistake it was a bit hard to rip out---I'd snagged it without realizing---sorry if that's too rambly or unclear. I would use it again tho.